Read the full article by Katya Poltorak (Northeastern Global News)
“Say no to sushi and steer clear of raw sprouts. Skip Bikram yoga. And keep your hands off that cat litter box.
Pregnancy comes with a list of dangers to avoid. Food-borne illnesses, overheating and parasites rank high.
However, some everyday products come with hazards that are hard to spot, such as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as forever chemicals. They have been a go-to for keeping things dry and gunk-free, such as waterproof clothing and pans. But they contain chains of carbon atoms linked to fluorine — a bond that’s especially difficult to break, and if present in the body for a long time could cause a host of serious health risks.
A new study by Julia Varshavsky, assistant professor at the Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences, and colleagues found that women exposed to forever chemicals were twice more likely to have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, later in pregnancy. And the tendency to develop the medical condition was strongest in first-time mothers and those carrying girls.”…